Wendell Says It All

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A short Q&A in a September newsletter
from the National Supplier Clearinghouse says it all: HME providers
who don’t get their surety bonds
in by the Oct. 2 deadline will have their Medicare billing
privileges revoked.

In the newsletter’s “Ask Wendell” feature, here’s how Wendell
responded to the following questions:

Q: What happens if I do not submit a surety bond by Oct.
2, 2009, to the NSC?

A: Per CMS Instruction, suppliers who do not
meet the surety bond requirement are subject to the revocation of
their Medicare billing privileges and an enrollment bar from the
Medicare program for at least one year.

Q: What is the difference between my billing privileges
being deactivated and revoked?

A: Suppliers whose billing privileges are
deactivated are usually as a result of non-response to a
development request or if a supplier has a DNF (Do Not Forward) on
file from the billing jurisdiction. Suppliers with deactivated
PTANS may immediately reapply to the NSC for billing privileges.
Revocations are the result of non-compliance with one or more of
the current supplier standards. Suppliers that are revoked are
subject to an enrollment bar from the Medicare program.

Other reminders from the newsletter:

• “As Instructed by CMS, DMEPOS suppliers that are required to
  submit a surety bond or become accredited must be in compliance
  with supplier standards 22-26 in order to obtain Medicare billing
  privileges or avoid the revocation of existing billing
  privileges.”

• “Surety bonds must be submitted to the NSC along with section 1,
  12 & 15 no later than Oct. 2, 2009.”

• “Accreditation information will be shared with the NSC by the
  accrediting organization. Check with the accreditation organization
  for verification and accuracy of products and services.”

• “Suppliers who are not in compliance with the supplier standards
  may voluntarily terminate their billing privileges to avoid
  revocation. Once fully compliant, suppliers may reapply for
  Medicare billing privileges by completing the CMS-855S. Normal
  processing guidelines will apply, including a site visit if
  required.”

• “Suppliers must be fully accredited no later than Oct. 1, 2009
  to be in compliance with the CMS requirement.”

• “Being enrolled as a non-participating supplier does not provide
  an exemption for the accreditation and/or the surety bond
  requirement.”

For FAQs on both accreditation and surety bonds, check the
NSC Web site.